So I'll be getting my Crucial M4 a week today as a Christmas present, and I want to make sure I know what I'm doing

As far as I can tell, all I need to do is:

Set drive mode to AHCI in the BIOS.
Install windows with only the SSD connected to my primary SATA Port.
Disable hibernation and disk defrag.
Download all windows updates.
Restart.
Connect second HDD and move the 'Users' and 'Program Files (x86)' to the second HDD, using the 'Location' tab under 'Properties'

And I should be good to go?

Thanks

Actually, there is no location tab for the Users and Program Files folders - that is why I was seeking an alternative method to move them.
You can use the location tab method for the folders inside of Users\YourUsername except for the AppData folder, which will slowly grow as you use more programs or stuff.

So I'll be getting my Crucial M4 a week today as a Christmas present, and I want to make sure I know what I'm doing

As far as I can tell, all I need to do is:

Set drive mode to AHCI in the BIOS.
Install windows with only the SSD connected to my primary SATA Port.
Disable hibernation and disk defrag.
Download all windows updates.
Restart.
Connect second HDD and move the 'Users' and 'Program Files (x86)' to the second HDD, using the 'Location' tab under 'Properties'

And I should be good to go?

Thanks

Actually, there is no location tab for the Users and Program Files folders - that is why I was seeking an alternative method to move them.
You can use the location tab method for the folders inside of Users\YourUsername except for the AppData folder, which will slowly grow as you use more programs or stuff.

You actually can “relocate” the Programs Files and Program Files (x86); to a different location through a registry hack... but do you really want to? What you are actually doing through the hack, is changing the default location for installing new programs, so you are not actually moving programs you have already installed.

This can still allow you to install some programs (the ones that allow you to specify an install location through a custom install; not all do), onto your SSD if that is where you want them. All others will install to the default location that you specify in the registry change.

Windows doesn’t care where it loads program information from, as long as it knows the location… Programs can load from an SSD, secondary HDD, or both depending on how you installed them in the first place. One of the key benefits of an SSD is fast program load times. Programs that are installed to a secondary HDD don’t benefit from the speed of the SSD. This technique can be useful for a small SSD where you only need to have your most commonly used programs on the SSD.

You unfortunately just can’t move the installed programs… That requires too many registry changes, as each program writes its executable location/working files location in the registry, based on information that existed when the program was first installed. Also the App Data for each program, as you indicate, still remains on the SSD, where it should. You would need to reinstall all of the programs that you want to move off the SSD after the registry change.

TwoCables and I posted a thread on how to do this some time ago. I’ll see if I can find it, and edit this post accordingly.

EDIT: I hate that the search function is not working, so here's a write up:

You will require a single registry edit on 32 bit installations, or 2 edits on a 64 bit installation, as indicated below:

First, after installing Windows, create a directory on your D:\ drive called "Program Files" (or whatever drive letter is associated with your secondary HDD). If you are running a 64bit version of Windows, also create a directory called “Program Files (x86)”.DO NOT delete these directories from your C:\ drive (the SSD). You will ultimately use these for programs you want on your SSD.

Next, open registry editor by pushing your windows key +R. In the run dialog box, type "regedit" (without the quotes).

Before making any changes, I always recommend "exporting" the entire current registry to a file on your desktop, in case you make a mistake. You can restore the original registry you changed with this exported copy. The export command is located in the “File” menu.

Once you have exported the current registry,

expand: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion, by clicking on the arrows to expand the individual keys.

Make sure you click on CurrentVersion (it should be highlighted). On the right side, double click on ProgramFilesDir (this is the value that sets the default install location for programs).

With an x64 OS: There is an additional entry for ProgramFilesDir (x86). This "value data" should be changed to D:\Program Files (x86).

Just for reference, (this happens automatically… no user input required):

In a 32 bit installation, all programs are installed to the “Program Files” directory.
In a 64 bit installation, 64bit applications are installed to “Program Files”, and 32 bit applications are installed to “Program Files (x86)”

After the registry change, all program install routines will install their programs onto the secondary HDD by default. If you want a program to install to the SSD, you will need to do a “custom” install, and specify the location; (Program Files” or “Program Files (x86)”) on your C:\ drive (the SSD). If you don’t specifically specify a location, the program will end up on your secondary HDD. There are a few exceptions where an installer will force the program onto your C:\ drive (the SSD). Microsoft is notorious for this.Edited by xandypx - 12/20/11 at 8:52am